Interesting that you say your philosophy is optimism, as the Stoics were (are) pessimists. Where positive thinking visualizes the single positive outcome, pessimism uses visualisation to create an awareness of the range of outcomes and what needs to be done to make the preferred outcome more likely. Also wanted to say I love the Lebell paraphrase of the Enchiridion, its the first book I read on Stoicism and it gave me a love for and interest in western philosophy after focusing exclusively on the eastern schools since around high school.
While a lot of the teachings in Stoicism may appear negative -- giving the appearance of pessimism -- they are actually more pragmatic in nature with a dash of optimism. If you are thinking more of pessimistic points of view, then those would be the Cynics, Nihilists, etc... :) I use stoicism every single day as my operating system, however, I am a very positive, optimistic person. :)
I just recently subscribed. You have some great, very informative, and very helpful videos. I see you haven't made anything new in 6 months. I hope everything is okay and there's more to come.
Be serious! Come on, “responsibility” meaning “the ability to choose a response” (2:37-38)! The correct etymology involves the suffix “-ity” indicating the "condition or quality of being X”. The etymology is also profoundly misleading in so far as Epictetus’ “ghost in the machine” is a real busybody: it doesn’t limit itself to choosing a response to φαντασίαι or sensibilia, it makes a judicious use (χρῆσις) of them. I know that our philosopher was afflicted with literal lameness (χώλανσις) but that doesn’t mean it should be considered a virtue when used metaphorically about etymology or explanation of key concepts (maybe I’m mistaken and reference is being made to responsAbility, a concept which I haven’t come across - I’d always thought it was spelling mistake;-).
Good talk on stoicism. I like Epictetus also. However, why do have to spoil it by mentioning Steve Cov - something. He is a parrot, who has nothing of his own to offer... his words are jus copying other people's words. Like a parrot, you know?
